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Friday, April 29, 2011

Military poncho's come in very handy as an everyday item, especially in a survival situation. Military style poncho's can be purchased from military surplus stores, as well as, off the Internet.

The poncho is of a nylon type rip stop material with a hood and side snaps. The poncho also comes with a liner that is a quilted style nylon material and attaches to the poncho for warmth. When these two items are together, they make a good light weight sleeping bag.

The poncho can be used to make a hasty survival pup tent to quickly get you out of the weather and to make a place to sleep. All you need is two trees close together to tie a rope across to hang the poncho. The poncho is folded in half over the rope so that each half touches the ground at an angle. The sides are then staked down or tie to large rocks.

You can cover the sides with dirt so that when it rains it does not run into the inside. So when preparing the ground prior to erecting the tent you can build a small raised area to sleep on that will also help in keeping water from pooling up inside the shelter.

You can use pine and spruce limbs (called boughs) as bedding to provide insulation from the cold ground. If you have a poncho liner you can use it for a blanket if you are alone, or to make a larger pup tent or lean-to if you have to provide shelter for two or more people.

Poncho's do not take up a lot of small when rolled small. Poncho's have many uses and should be included in your automobile survival equipment, your bug out bag and your hiking gear.

When you roll up your poncho, use about 20 feet of cordage, like paracord to secure it. This can be used when you need to build a shelter.

Tuesday, April 26, 2011

Should you ever find yourself stranded in the wilderness with no survival equipment and need shelter, a debris shelter can be built without the aid of equipment. A debris shelter is a basic shelter put together by logically piling together resources found in your surrounding environment.

If you find yourself in the mountains surrounded by trees and brush, you have all you need to build a shelter that could save your life. Locate a downed tree large enough to lay limbs across that will hold debris to make walls. Clear the ground where you will be laying so that it will provide a flat comfortable surface. Later you can make a bed by adding layers of spruce or pine boughs. If you have access to a camp fire you can heat up rocks to bury under your sleeping area. Make sure the rocks are deep enough to provide heat without burning the sleeper.

Pine tree limbs and other dense type limbs can be placed over the frame you made with limbs to help block out the wind. You may even get lucky and be in an area where the outer bark of dead trees are loose enough to peel off to make a good rain proof roof and walls.

When adding the branches and other materials, start at the bottom and work your way up. This forms an overlapping layer that allows rain to run down the outer side of the shelter instead of being forced inside.

The shelter should be just larger enough for the number of people that will be using it. The larger the shelter the harder it is to warm it up. The entrance to the shelter should have a door cover that can be closed after you have entered the shelter.

Make sure the location you pick for your shelter is not in a possible flood zone. Pick a location that is flat on a hill side away from the blowing winds. Also, check the trees around your chosen area to make sure none of them appear as if it could fall on your shelter. And never choose a site near a game trail or too close to a watering spot.

Different shelter configurations can be made using this technique. Use your imagination.

Saturday, April 23, 2011

Water is one of your most urgent needs in a survival situation. You can' t live long without it, especially in hot areas where you lose water rapidly through perspiration. Even in cold areas, you need a minimum of 2 liters of water each day to maintain efficiency.

More than three-fourths of your body is composed of fluids. Your body loses fluid as a result of heat, cold, stress, and exertion. To function effectively, you must replace the fluid your body loses. So, one of your first goals is to obtain an adequate supply of water.

Mountainous terrain provides a good possibilty for locating water. Try to locate streams or springs of water in the draws coming off hill tops. Large green vegetation in pastures that contain a large variety of trees, besides the evergreen trees, provide an indication that there may be surface water nearby or under ground water close to the surface.

Game trails may also lead to water. But they could go on for miles before leading up to the water source.

In the early morning hours when dew is on the grass you can tie a rag or t-shirt around the lower part of your legs and walk through the grass. The cloth will soak up the moisture and then can be wrung out into a container or directly into your mouth. The moisture may taste a little dirty, but its better than nothing.

Dew can also be collected off of non-poisonous leaves from trees. Rain water can be collected from rock crevices. If you are in a jungle type mountain terrain, water can be collected from the hanging vines. Do not drink water from vines that look milky. To get the water from the vine, cut the bottom of the vine completely off and then make a notch approximately 3 feet up the vine. This releases suction in the vine allowing water to flow out of the vine.

Green bamboo will contain drinkable water in each of its sections.

A clear plastic bag can be tied over tree leaves and secured. Water condensation will build up on this inside of the plastic and will drip to the lowest end of the bag. Make sure you use a tree that does not have poisonous leaves.

Old homesteads that are abandoned and miles from civilization may have under ground cisterns. These cisterns may have water, athough it will probably be stagnant and dirty. Use purification techniques to make the water safe to drink.

The following fluids should never be substituted for water: blood, urine, sea water.

Thursday, April 21, 2011

The M6 Scout features a folding stock which is easily detached via a quick-release pivot pin. An M6 breaks down in less than 5 seconds to a very compact overall length of 18", providing easy storage on a boat, small plane, tractor or recreational vehicle. A specially designed trigger guard allows conventional finger firing, or full hand firing while wearing mittens or heavy gloves.

What I did not like about the M6 was the small amount of .410 ammo that is carried in the ammo compartment. This led me to make my own modifications to correct this short coming. I used 1/2 copper tubing cut to the length of the barrel and then crimped the bottom ends of both tubes. I was opting to use PVC tubing to keep the overall weight to a minimum, but figured a stronger tube would come in handy somewhere down the road.

If you use 3" rounds, you can fit 4 rounds in each tube. If you use the 2 1/2 " rounds you can fit 5 rounds in each tube. I opted to use 4 rounds of the 3", #4 shot rounds for hunting turkey, grouse, pheasant, duck and other game of that size. The 3" shells provide a little more push and distance needed to get the pellets to the target.

My other choice of shot sizes were #6 for rabbit, squirrel and other game of that size and #7 1/2 for use on quail, dove, snakes and other game of that size. In the original ammo holder in the butt of the rifle I have 4 each of 3" rifled slugs. I would use these for small deer, pig, self defense and things of that nature.

I would opt to use the .22 LR rounds for farther distance prey like rabbit or pig when I can't get close enough to hit them with the .410 rounds.

I could also opt to use one tube to hold a small survival kit, which would include a fishing setup in the event I'm near a watering hole that has fish.

I wrapped electrical tape around both copper tubing's, which could provide me tape in a survival situation. Both tubes were then secured to the side of the barrels with a couple turns of electrical tape and then secured by the paracord windings. This provides me with about 25 feet of paracord I could use in an emergency.

By adding the tubing, not only did I gain more ammo, I also provided a more comfortable grip on the barrel. I really did not like the narrow fit of the barrels, but now I'm happy with the feel. The rifle is a few pounds or ounces heavier, but does not distract from its intended use.

This M6 is even designed to have a scope mounted on it. This is an option I may look into at a later date.

It's a shame they don't make this weapon any longer. Maybe someday they will make a similar or better version. In the mean time you may be able to find one for sale on the Internet or gun shows. Mine is NOT for sale.

This is an example of what you can do when you put your mind to it. In choosing your survival gear, you should pick items that have multiple uses. An example would be a Leatherman or Gerber multi-tool. These have many uses under one hood. In making the modifications to my M6, I now have many uses of this rifle as a result.

Tuesday, April 19, 2011

Only young asparagus shoots are commonly eaten: once the buds start to open, the shoots quickly turn woody and become strongly flavoured.

Asparagus is low in calories and is very low in sodium. It is a good source of vitamin B6, calcium, magnesium and zinc, and a very good source of dietary fiber, protein, vitamin A, vitamin C, vitamin E, vitamin K, thiamin, riboflavin, rutin, niacin, folic acid, iron, phosphorus, potassium, copper, manganese and selenium, as well as chromium, a trace mineral that enhances the ability of insulin to transport glucose from the bloodstream into cells. The amino acid asparagine gets its name from asparagus, the asparagus plant being rich in this compound.

The shoots are prepared and served in a number of ways around the world, typically as an appetizer or vegetable side dish. In Asian-style cooking, asparagus is often stir-fried. Cantonese restaurants in the United States often serve asparagus stir-fried with chicken, shrimp, or beef, and also wrapped in bacon. Asparagus may also be quickly grilled over charcoal or hardwood embers. It is also used as an ingredient in some stews and soups.

Asparagus can also be pickled and stored for several years. Some brands may label shoots prepared this way as "marinated".

The bottom portion of asparagus often contains sand and dirt, so thorough cleaning is generally advised in cooking it.

Medicinal:

Nutrition studies have shown asparagus is a low-calorie source of folate and potassium. Its stalks are high in antioxidants. "Asparagus provides essential nutrients: six spears contain some 135 micrograms (µg) of folate, almost half the adult RDI (recommended daily intake), 20 milligrams of potassium," notes an article in Reader's Digest. Research suggests folate is key in taming homocysteine, a substance implicated in heart disease. Folate is also critical for pregnant women, since it protects against neural tube defects in babies. Several studies indicate getting plenty of potassium may reduce the loss of calcium from the body.

"Asparagus has long been recognized for its medicinal properties," wrote D. Onstad, author of Whole Foods Companion: A Guide for Adventurous Cooks, Curious Shoppers and Lovers of Natural Foods. "Asparagus contains substances that act as a diuretic, neutralize ammonia that makes us tired, and protect small blood vessels from rupturing. Its fiber content makes it a laxative, too."

(source:wikipedia.com)

Stay Prepared! Stay Alive!

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